How much does a cook make in Salinas?
$43,120a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Salinas, CA metro area. That is $20.73 an hour or $3,593 a month.
- Hourly
- $20.73
- Vs. national median
- +40%
- Rank among cities
- 8 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 1,100
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $35,130Median: $43,120Highest 10%: $47,010
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,130 | $16.89 | |
| 25th | $37,020 | $17.80 | |
| Median | $43,120 | $20.73 | |
| 75th | $44,060 | $21.18 | |
| 90th | $47,010 | $22.60 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| San Jose, CA | $47,220 |
| San Francisco, CA | $46,670 |
| Napa, CA | $45,300 |
| Vallejo, CA | $44,450 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $43,840 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $43,630 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $42,700 |
| Oxnard, CA | $42,530 |
| Modesto, CA | $42,510 |
| Riverside, CA | $42,480 |
| San Diego, CA | $42,450 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $42,390 |
| Yuba City, CA | $42,320 |
| Sacramento, CA | $42,210 |
| Stockton, CA | $41,600 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $41,480 |
| Hanford, CA | $41,280 |
| Merced, CA | $40,430 |
| Chico, CA | $40,340 |
| El Centro, CA | $40,230 |
| Redding, CA | $39,920 |
| Visalia, CA | $39,750 |
| Fresno, CA | $39,620 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $38,000 |
Related jobs in Salinas
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $72,440 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $48,220 |
| Cook | $46,820 |
| Cook | $44,930 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $43,260 |
| Cook | $40,550 |
| Cook | $39,640 |
| Food Server | $38,660 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,480 |
| Dishwasher | $37,350 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Salinas?
The median hourly pay in the Salinas, CA metro area is $20.73 ($43,120 a year).
Do cooks make more in Salinas than the national average?
Yes: $43,120 against $30,890 nationally, 40% more.
How does Salinas compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,050, so Salinas pays 3% more.
Where does Salinas rank for cook pay?
8 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Salinas?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,130 or less a year; the top 10% make $47,010 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.